Development of a hydrogeological conceptual wetland model in the data-scarce north-eastern region of Kilombero Valley,Tanzania

Understanding groundwater/surface-water interactions in wetlands is crucial because wetlands provide not only a high potential for agricultural production, but also sensitive and valuable ecosystems. This is especially true for the Kilombero floodplain wetland in Tanzania, which represents a data-scarce region in terms of hydrological and hydrogeological data. A comprehensive approach combining hydrogeological with tracer-based assessments was conducted, in order to develop a conceptual hydrogeological wetland model of the area around the city of Ifakara in the north-eastern region of Kilombero catchment. Within the study site, a heterogeneous porous aquifer, with a range of hydraulic conductivities, is underlain by a fractured-rock aquifer. Groundwater chemistry is mainly influenced by silicate weathering and depends on groundwater residence times related to the hydraulic conductivities of the porous aquifer. Groundwater flows from the hillside to the river during most of the year. While floodwater close to the river is mainly derived from overbank flow of the river, floodwater at a greater distance from the river mainly originates from precipitation and groundwater discharge. Evaporation effects in floodwater increase with increasing distance from the river. In general, the contribution of flood and stream water to groundwater recharge is negligible. In terms of an intensification of agricultural activities in the wetland, several conclusions can be drawn from the conceptual model. Results of this study are valuable as a base for further research related to groundwater/surface-water interactions and the conceptual model can be used in the future to set up numerical flow and transport models.     

Groundwater quality degradation as a result of overpumping in the delta Wadi El-Arish area,Sinai Peninsula,Egypt

The delta Wadi El-Arish area of the Sinai Peninsula is one of the most important parts of Egypt for industrial and agricultural expansion projects because of its relatively abundant supply of groundwater. This study focuses on the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of the Quaternary aquifer in the delta Wadi El-Arish area and on the impacts pumping has had on groundwater quality. The objectives were to determine the relationships between groundwater pumping and water levels and water quality, to estimate the hydraulic parameters of the Quaternary aquifer, and to determine the hydrochemistry of groundwater in the Quaternary aquifer and its suitability for irrigation. The conclusions are: (1) potentiometric surface elevations have declined by an average of about 0.5 m since 1981 in response to an increase in pumping, (2) the transmissivity of the lower Pleistocene calcareous sandstone (kurkar) unit is higher than the transmissivity of the upper Pleistocene alluvium, (3) groundwater in the Pleistocene aquifer is augmented with groundwater leaking from the overlying Holocene sand dune deposits through the intervening sandy clay aquitard, (4) groundwater in the kurkar is of lower quality than groundwater in the alluvium, (5) total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations have increased by an average of about 1500 ppm since 1962, (6) an increase in saltwater intrusion has occurred in the northern part of the study area, and (7) the irrigation suitability of groundwater pumped from wells in much of the area is limited to salt tolerant crops. Our recommendations are: (1) no new pumping wells should be drilled and no increase in pumping rates should be allowed in the delta Wadi El-Arish area, (2) reliable estimates of the quantity of groundwater recharge should be made, (3) flood irrigation systems should be replaced by either drip or sprinkler     

Development of a 3D groundwater model based on scarce data: the Wadi Kafrein catchment/Jordan

In this work, a 3D groundwater flow model integrating all important geological features of the hydrogeological system is developed to investigate hydrological processes in the Wadi Kafrein area of Jordan. A large amount of available geological and hydrological data is integrated to construct a 3D groundwater flow model for the Wadi Kafrein area. Using the newly developed mapping approach, the translation of the highly detailed geological formations to an unstructured finite element grids, can be accomplished with high precision. The existing data set for model calibration is scarce, which is a typical situation for many hydrogeological case studies. At first, the steady state calibration of the groundwater model is carried out based on the observation wells. Then, the time and space-dependent recharge from precipitation are applied at the top surface of the finite element model. The transient simulation is conducted during the period of 1996–2008 considering the abstraction rates of the production wells and discharge of the springs. The calculated water levels are close to the observed values. The difference is partly caused by return flows from irrigation and the groundwater inflow from the adjacent aquifers which are not taken into consideration so far. Since the Wadi Kafrein area is an important agricultural area in the semiarid region of the Lower Jordan Valley, the model developed in this study can be regarded as a useful tool for analyzing the hydrological processes and improving groundwater management practices elsewhere affected by similar geological and hydrogeological conditions.     

Groundwater hydrochemistry and origin in the south-eastern part of Wadi El Natrun,Egypt

The demand for water is rapidly increasing in Egypt, because of high population and agriculture production growth rate, which makes research of water resources necessary. The regional multi-aquifer system of the Miocene–Pleistocene age is discharged in Wadi El Natrun area. Intensive aquifer overexploitation and agricultural development in the area are related to groundwater quality deterioration. Hydrochemical and hydrogeological data was evaluated to determine the groundwater origin and quality in the south-eastern part of wadi, which appears to be more significant for water supply owing to lower groundwater salinity. The dominance of the high mineralised Cl groundwater type was found; however, also less mineralised SO₄ and HCO₃ types were identified there. Based on the ion relations, halite and gypsum dissolution and ion exchange are the most important hydrochemical processes forming the groundwater chemical composition. The Cl dominated groundwater matches the discharge part of the regional hydrogeological system. Contrary, the presence of HCO₃ and SO₄ hydrochemical types corresponds to the infiltration and transferring parts of the hydrogeological system indicating the presence of zones conducting low mineralised groundwater. The discharge area of the over-pumped aquifer in Wadi El-Natrun lies 23 m beneath the sea level with the shoreline being at the distance of 100 km, thus there is a real risk of seawater intrusion. Using the hydrochemical facies evolution diagram, four samples in the centre of the discharge area indicate advanced seawater intrusion. The zones of the highest demand for groundwater quality protection were indicated based on a spatial pattern of hydrogeochemical composition.     

山西太原晋祠—兰村泉水复流的岩溶水文地质条件新认识

晋祠泉和兰村泉是山西著名的岩溶大泉,受自然条件变化和人类活动的影响,两个泉于20世纪末相继断流。针对山西省政府提出的要使晋祠、兰村泉水复流的生态修复目标任务,文章在泉域水文地质调查基础上,就泉水复流密切相关的四个关键性岩溶水文地质条件问题开展研究并提出了新认识。核实了目前划定的晋祠—兰村泉域边界,依据最新资料对现行的晋祠、兰村泉域边界提出了7处修正,修改后晋祠泉域面积由2 030 km2变为2 713 km2,兰村泉域面积由2 500 km2变为2 614 km2。汾河二库在蓄水后库区的主体部分划归到晋祠泉域而非兰村泉域,其渗漏补给是造成近年来晋祠泉域区域岩溶地下水位大幅回升的主要原因。确定了晋祠泉域内盘道—马家山断裂带是一个岩溶水强富水带,也是岩溶地下水从北部中、上寒武统含水岩组向南部中奥陶统含水岩组的转换带。圈定了晋祠泉域:玉门河南峪村—杜儿平煤矿东侧—官地矿与白家庄矿交界处—龙山—明仙村东—晋祠泉的岩溶地下水强径流带。这些认识是开展晋祠—兰村泉域岩溶地下水资源评价、地下水开发管理和保护的基础,更是制定晋祠、兰村泉水复流方案的重要依据。     

某石化污染场地含水层自然降解BTEX能力评估

地下水污染问题是国家关注的重要环境问题之一,监测与评估含水层自然降解污染物能力是防治地下水污染的基本手段,也是国外地下水中修复技术研究热点课题。以华北平原某石油化工类场地为案例,通过调查场地水文地质条件、土壤及地下水污染现状,监测场地地下水中苯系物(BTEX)浓度及相关化学参数变化,运用微生物水文地球化学方法和水文地质方法,估算了该场地含水层自然降解苯系物量。这一研究成果为评估我国石油类场地地下水污染的自然修复能力提供了实证和基础数据。     

Site selection and cost-benefit analysis for artificial recharge in the Baghmalek plain, Khuzestan Province, southwest Iran

Available hydrogeological data for the Baghmalek aquifer, southwest Iran, suggest that in order to counter progressive depletion of groundwater, but at the same time meet the growing demand on groundwater resources, artificial recharge should be considered. The success of artificial recharge schemes requires the integration of many types of data and information. The prime prerequisite in establishing an artificial recharge scheme using the surface spreading technique is identification of a suitable site. Therefore, an integrated investigation, including a detailed assessment of surface and sub-surface geology, and hydrogeological surveys were undertaken. The potential of harvesting storm waters, considering their quality and suspended loads, has been evaluated. Using this background, three sites (including basins and check dam) for artificial recharge are suggested in the north and northeast of the area, where the thickness of coarse alluvium is greatest. On the basis of the collected data, (1) the rate of recharge that can be achieved at the three sites is approximately 2.2 million m³ per year, (2) the cost–benefit ratio is 1:1.32, and (3) the analysis suggests that the project could recover the investment within 3 years.     

Natural and artificial recharge investigation in the Zéroud Basin,Central Tunisia: impact of Sidi Saad Dam storage

Hydrochemical and isotopic data of waters from the Zéroud aquifer have been used to potentially provide a means for locating occurrences and to trace movements of a variety of natural and anthropogenic recharge waters in the Zéroud Basin, Central Tunisia. Geochemical data have been measured during the dam water release, from May to September 2005, with a sampling time step of 15 days. An implication of dam water has been demonstrated that is noticeable up along the main flow path to a distance of 10 km far from the injection site. Environmental isotopes ²H, ¹⁸O and ³H of water molecule were studied to investigate the effect of dam water on the hydrological system, and an isotope balance was established to compute the contribution of water storage component in groundwater. Based on isotopic mass balance, we assess that an average of 13% of total groundwater in the upper aquifer came from dam water storage. Three distinctive recharge waters in the aquifer can be determined. Water from local rainfall (pre-dam Zéroud River) that infiltrated into the boundaries of the Draa Affane Mountain was easily distinguished from the water influenced by anthropogenic recharge located in the Zéroud right rivulet. Distinguishable isotopic signatures of native wadi Zéroud recharge due to “recent lineal recharge” through the riverbed were also identified.     

Groundwater chemistry of strike slip faulted aquifers: the case study of Wadi Zerka Ma’in aquifers, north east of the Dead Sea

Wadi Zerka Ma’in catchment area is located to the north east of the Dead Sea. It has two types of aquifers: (a) an upper unconfined aquifer and (b) a lower confined aquifer. The two aquifers are separated by a marl aquiclude. A major strike slip fault passes perpendicularly through the two aquifers and the aquiclude layer with embedded normal faults. The aim of the study was to specify the effect of the major strike slip fault on the groundwater chemistry. The spatial variability of the hydrochemical compositions and physiochemical parameters of the groundwater were investigated. It was found that the embedded normal faults, of the strike slip fault, form conduits that allow groundwater to flow from the lower aquifer to the upper aquifer, resulting in mixed groundwater. The ratio of mixing was estimated to be 94 % groundwater from the upper aquifer and 6 % from the lower aquifer. Since groundwater in the lower aquifer is around three times more saline than the upper aquifer, water mixing into the upper water aquifer generates a salinity hazard.     

A catchment water balance model for estimating groundwater recharge in arid and semiarid regions of south-east Iran

This paper presents a new model of the rainfall-runoff-groundwater flow processes applicable to semiarid and arid catchments in south-east Iran. The main purpose of the model is to assess the groundwater recharge to aquifers in these catchments. The model takes into account main recharge mechanisms in the region, including subsurface flow in the valley alluvium in mountainous areas and recharge from the bed of ephemeral rivers. It deals with the effects of spatial variation in the hydrological processes by dividing the catchment into regions of broad hydrologic similarity named as highland, intermediate and aquifer areas. The model is based on the concept of routing precipitation within and through the catchment. The model has been applied to the Zahedan catchment and the results indicate that the groundwater level estimated by the recharge model generally is in agreement with the behaviour of groundwater levels in observation wells. The sensitivity analysis indicates that when the rainfall in the aquifer area is used to replace the values recorded in the intermediate area and the highland area, the recharge estimates are reduced by 42-87%. This result supports the division of the catchment into different zones of hydrological similarity to account for spatial variability of hydrological processes. Electronic Publication     

A geoelectrical and hydrogeological study for the assessment of groundwater resources in Wadi Al Bih, UAE

Drilling information, historical water table levels, groundwater salinity records of the existing water wells in Wadi Al Bih area, United Arab Emirates, were stored in a geodatabase and used to characterize the geological and hydrogeological settings of this area. A 2D earth resistivity imaging survey was conducted for the first time in the Northern UAE to determine the potential of the Quaternary aquifer and its groundwater quality in the areas where there are no monitoring wells. The results of the chemical analyses of the collected groundwater samples together with the inversion results of the resistivity data were used to draw a total salinity map and determine the spatial variations in groundwater quality. The inversion results of the 2D earth resistivity imaging data indicated that the Quaternary aquifer in the study area is in a good connection with the underlying carbonate aquifer. It also indicated that the carbonate aquifer is of major regional and vertical extension and it contains the fresh water in this area. The data stored in the developed database were used to produce different types of geopotential maps.     

Groundwater potential zone assessment in Wadi Watir area,Egypt using radar data and GIS

The exploration of new locations for possible groundwater potentiality is required to support the needs of urban and agricultural activities in arid regions such as Wadi Watir basin. The aim of this study is to locate new groundwater wells that can help overcome the water shortage. In order to define favorable zones for groundwater potentiality, several essential factors contributing to groundwater potentiality were identified. These factors include textural classification of alluvial deposits, lithological units, surface and subsurface structures, topographic parameters, geomorphological features and land use/land cover. A hydrogeological prospective model was developed using spatial data which represent these factors. For final groundwater potential map, all factors were converted to raster data to integrate spatially as important thematic layers based on weightage analysis. The groundwater potential map was classified to five classes including very poor to very good potential. The classes of groundwater potential map were checked against the distribution of the groundwater wells, Bedouin communities and agriculture areas, which present a general knowledge of groundwater potential in the study area.     

Hydrochemical classification and multivariate statistical analysis of groundwater from Wadi Sahba area in central Saudi Arabia

The central region of Saudi Arabia is underlain by thick sedimentary formations belonging to the Mesozoic and Cenozoic era. These sedimentary formations form a prolific aquifer supplying groundwater for agricultural and domestic usage in and around Riyadh. The region south of Riyadh City is well known for agricultural activities. Wadi Sahba, which is an eastward extension of Wadi Nisah, has readily available groundwater resources in the Cretaceous Biyadh sandstone aquifer to sustain agricultural activities. The objective of the present study was the hydrochemical assessment of groundwater in the area to understand the main hydrological processes which influence groundwater chemistry. To achieve this objective, 20 groundwater samples were collected from agricultural farms in the Wadi Sahba in central Saudi Arabia, and the major physiochemical constituents were analyzed and interpreted. The average TDS value of the analyzed samples is 1578.05 mg/l, whereas the average EC concentration is 3220.05 μS/cm. Groundwater facies classification inferred from the Piper plot shows that groundwater in the study area belongs to the Ca-SO₄-Cl type and Ca-Na-SO₄-Cl type. The Ca-SO₄-Cl type of groundwater facies is influenced mainly by gypsum dissolution and base ion exchange, whereas the Ca-Na-SO₄-Cl type is influenced by gypsum and halite dissolution. All the groundwater samples are undersaturated with respect to these two principal mineral phases. The Q-mode cluster analysis results in two main groups of groundwater samples, mainly based on the TDS content. Cluster 1 has an average TDS value of 1980 mg/l, whereas cluster 2 has an average TDS of 1176 mg/l. The groundwater facies identified through the Piper plot reflects the major hydrological processes controlling groundwater chemistry in the area and was found to be more useful in this study as compared to cluster analysis.     

Delineation of groundwater potential zones in Wadi Saida Watershed of NW-Algeria using remote sensing,geographic information system-based AHP techniques and geostatistical analysis

Sustainable management of groundwater resources has now become an obligation,especially in arid and semi-arid regions given the socio-economic importance of this resource.The optimization in zoning for groundwater exploitation helps in planning and managing groundwater supply works such as boreholes and wells in the catchment.The objective of this study is to use remote sensing and GIS-based Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)techniques to evaluate the groundwater potential of Wadi Saida Watershed.Spatial analysis such as geostatistics was also used to validate results and ensure more accuracy.Through the GIS tools and remote sensing technique,earth observation data were converted into thematic layers such as lineament density,geology,drainage density,slope,land use and rainfall,which were combined to delineate groundwater potential zones.Based on their respective impact on groundwater potential,the AHP approach was adopted to assign weights on multi-influencing factors.These results will enable decision-makers to optimize hydrogeological exploration in large-scale catchment areas and map areas.According to the results,the southern part of the Wadi Saida Watershed is characterized as a higher groundwater potential area,where 32%of the total surface area falls in the excellent and good class of groundwater potential.The validation process revealed a 71%agreement between the estimated and actual yield of the existing boreholes in the study area.     

Investigation on Submarine Groundwater Discharge at Kozhikkode Coastal Aquifer,SW Western Ghats

The direct discharge of groundwater to sea through aquifer medium (Submarine Groundwater Discharge), has been recognized as a small but significant component of hydrological cycle as it often transfers considerable amount of nutrients and pollutants to the sea. Understanding on Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) allows us to estimate optimum exploitation levels of coastal fresh groundwater and to locate feasible waste disposal sites in coastal zones. SGD is temporally and spatially variable as interactions between multiple forcing mechanisms vary at any given location and time. Thus, site-specific investigation is necessary to comprehensively evaluate the timing, magnitude, and importance of SGD in any region. The potential of thermal remote sensing (IR imagery) was resorted to target the possible SGD zones in the initial phase. Subsequently, hydrogeological, hydrochemical and resistivity surveys have provided adequate field evidences to delineate the direct discharge areas. Though sandy horizons form the main aquifer material, laterite and weathered/fractured rock were also found to be functioning as aquifer zones. Based on different field investigation techniques, a total of three areas such as, Gotheeswaram, Kappad and Koyilandi were identified as potential groundwater discharge zones in the Kozhikkode coastal aquifer.     

Integrated rainfall–runoff and flood inundation modeling for flash flood risk assessment under data scarcity in arid regions: Wadi Fatimah basin case study,Saudi Arabia

This paper presents a proposed integrated approach for flood hazardous evaluation in arid and semi-arid areas. Wadi Fatimah in Saudi Arabia is utilized for implementation of such an approach. The approach consists of four stages. In the first stage, a statistical analysis of rainfall data is performed to determine the design storms at specified return periods. In the second stage, geological and geomorphologic analyses are followed to estimate the geomorphic parameters. The third stage concerned with land use and land cover analyses linked with hydrological analysis to estimate the hydrographs. The fourth stage is related to the delineation of the inundation area under two scenarios: the presence and absence of the dam. The statistical analysis proved that some rainfall stations do not follow a Gumbel distribution. The presence of the dam reduces the inundation depth by about 10 %. The reduction in the inundation area due the presence of the dam is about 25 %.     

陇东盆地白垩系含水层水文地质参数求解

陇东盆地水资源短缺,严重制约着经济发展,近年来探明白垩系洛河组地层赋存巨厚深层地下淡水。含水层水文地质参数的求解是深层地下水资源评价的关键,用抽水试验确定深层承压含水层水文地质参数是水文地质勘查研究的一项重要的内容。根据单孔、多孔、干扰抽水试验资料,采用稳定流、非稳定流多种方法求解陇东盆地深层含水层水文地质参数,避免了单一方法的偶然性、随意性,计算结果可信。最后探讨了抽水试验场地水文地质条件与所选取公式理论条件的差异对计算结果的影响。      

Assessment of aquifer vulnerability based on GIS and DRASTIC methods: a case study of the Senirkent-Uluborlu Basin (Isparta, Turkey)

Aquifer vulnerability has been assessed in the Senirkent-Uluborlu Basin within the Egirdir Lake catchment (Turkey) using the DRASTIC method, based on a geographic information system (GIS). There is widespread agriculture in the basin, and fertilizer (nitrate) and pesticide applications have caused groundwater contamination as a result of leaching. According to hydrogeological data from the study area, surface water and groundwater flow are towards Egirdir Lake. Hence, aquifer vulnerability in the basin should be determined by water quality in Egirdir Lake. DRASTIC layers were prepared using data such as rainfall, groundwater level, aquifer type, and hydraulic conductivity. These data were obtained from hydrogeological investigations and literature. A regional-scale aquifer-vulnerability map of the basin was prepared using overlay analysis with the aid of GIS. A DRASTIC vulnerability map, verified by nitrate in groundwater data, shows that the defined areas are compatible with land-use data. It is concluded that 20.8% of the basin area is highly vulnerable and urgent pollution-preventions measures should be taken for every kind of relevant activity within the whole basin.     

Artificial groundwater recharge to a semi-arid basin: case study of Mujib aquifer,Jordan

Mujib watershed is an important groundwater basin which is considered a major source for drinking and irrigation water in Jordan. Increased dependence on groundwater needs improved aquifer management with respect to understanding deeply recharge and discharge issues, planning rates withdrawal, and facing water quality problems arising from industrial and agricultural contamination. The efficient management of this source depends on reliable estimates of the recharge to groundwater and is needed in order to protect Mujib basin from depletion. Artificial groundwater recharge was investigated in this study as one of the important options to face water scarcity and to improve groundwater storage in the aquifer. A groundwater model based on the MODFLOW program, calibrated under both steady- and unsteady-state conditions, was used to investigate different groundwater management scenarios that aim at protecting the Mujib basin. The scenarios include variations of abstraction levels combined with different artificial groundwater recharge quantities. The possibilities of artificial groundwater recharge from existing and proposed dams as well as reclaimed municipal wastewater were investigated. Artificial recharge options considered in this study are mainly through injecting water directly to the aquifer and through infiltration from reservoir. Three scenarios were performed to predict the aquifer system response under different artificial recharge options (low, moderate, and high) which then compared with no action (recharge) scenario. The best scenario that provides a good recovery for the groundwater table and that can be feasible is founded to be by reducing current abstraction rates by 20% and implementing the moderate artificial recharge rates of 26 million(M)m³/year. The model constructed in this study helps decision makers and planners in selecting optimum management schemes suitable for such arid and semi-arid regions.     

基于遥感技术估算藏东南山区地下水径流模数方法

如何科学评估野外场地条件下的地下水径流模数对于满足工程水文地质需求具有重要应用价值.结合现场调查、遥感解译和气象水文观测等技术手段,通过建立线性回归模型,开展了帕隆藏布流域场地条件下的地下水径流模数估算研究.结果表明:研究区具有典型的季节性积雪融雪规律.冬季积雪在夏季大量融化产流,作为地下水的一个额外补给源.去除融雪产流对径流模数影响后,研究区岩浆岩裂隙型、变质岩裂隙型、碎屑岩裂隙型、碳酸盐岩-碎屑岩裂隙溶隙型含水介质地下水径流模数分别在1.081~2.792 L/s·km2、1.833~3.225 L/s·km2、1.128~2.889 L/s·km2、3.455~3.879 L/s·km2之间.估算结果显示本文所建立的地下水径流估算模型可作为藏东南地区及类似条件区域地下水径流模数估算新方法,为雅鲁藏布江下游梯级开发等大型基础工程提供重要的水文地质参数支撑.